European Strategy ESA Strategy 2040 outlines Europe’s path to autonomy, resilience, and sustainability in space

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The European Space Agency (ESA) has released its long-term strategy “ESA Strategy 2040 – In Focus”, setting a clear course for Europe’s space ambitions over the next 15 years. Building on the foundations of “Agenda 2025”, the new roadmap defines five strategic goals designed to secure Europe’s autonomy, competitiveness, and environmental responsibility in an increasingly contested and commercialised space domain.

ESA’s new strategy envisions a Europe that is prosperous, resilient, autonomous, and inspiring—on Earth and in space. Acknowledging rapid geopolitical change, the growing role of private space actors, and the global expansion of space investments, ESA calls for a significant increase in Europe’s contribution to global space activity, which currently stands at just 11%. The strategy aims to strengthen Europe’s ability to act independently while deepening cooperation with the European Union and international partners.

Protecting the planet and ensuring orbital sustainability

Environmental responsibility and planetary protection are central pillars of ESA’s 2040 vision. Under the banner “Protect our Planet and Climate”, the Agency plans to expand Earth observation and space safety capabilities.
Key initiatives include the development of a “Digital Twin Earth” to simulate and model environmental systems, as well as the implementation of a “Zero Debris Policy” that commits ESA to full orbital sustainability by 2040. The Agency is also investing in planetary defence and space weather monitoring, with the target of achieving a collision probability below 1:1000 and a 99% mission disposal success rate by 2030.

Expanding human and robotic exploration

The second strategic objective, “Explore and Discover”, outlines ESA’s scientific and exploratory priorities for the next two decades. Missions such as Juice, Euclid, Plato, Ariel, LISA, Envision, NewAthena and Arrakihs are part of a broader framework leading towards the Voyage 2050 programme.
ESA intends to strengthen its presence in low Earth orbit, on the Moon, and eventually towards Mars, including the development of autonomous transport systems and lunar communication and navigation infrastructure.

Strengthening autonomy and resilience

“Strengthen European Autonomy and Resilience” reflects the growing strategic importance of space for defence, security and technological sovereignty. ESA plans to secure independent access to space through next-generation, potentially reusable launch systems and the creation of a European low Earth orbit economy based on in-orbit services such as manufacturing, debris removal, and data processing.
Future connectivity and navigation architectures will integrate quantum communication and interplanetary data networks, sometimes referred to as the “Solar System Internet”. These efforts are intended to provide resilient infrastructures for both civil and security applications.

Driving growth and industrial competitiveness

Under “Boost European Growth and Competitiveness”, ESA aims to foster industrial leadership and private investment through disruptive innovation. Priorities include new propulsion systems, very-low-Earth-orbit (VLEO) technologies, and sustainable on-orbit habitats. By supporting emerging space companies and strengthening public-private partnerships, ESA seeks to position Europe as a global hub for commercial space activity.
Investments in the European “New Space” ecosystem have already grown from €18 million in 2014 to €1 billion in 2023, reflecting the increasing dynamism of the sector.

Inspiring Europe through science and cooperation

The fifth strategic objective, “Inspire Europe”, focuses on education, inclusiveness, and diplomacy. ESA intends to use space exploration as a tool for inspiration and international cooperation, promoting STEM education and diversity across its programmes. Flagship initiatives such as Galileo, Copernicus, and IRIS² will remain at the core of Europe’s space infrastructure, underpinning both civil and strategic applications.

Implementation and milestones

The ESA Council meetings at ministerial level in 2025 and 2028 will serve as major milestones for the implementation of the 2040 vision. ESA will continue its internal transformation towards greater agility, simplified procurement processes, and enhanced collaboration with the EU and the private sector. The long-term plan also links European space priorities with broader goals in climate resilience, digitalisation, and security.

A long-term roadmap for Europe’s space leadership

The “ESA Strategy 2040” reflects an ambition to balance exploration, sustainability, autonomy, and innovation. By reinforcing Europe’s role as a global space power, ESA positions itself not only as a scientific leader, but also as a key player in ensuring that space remains a sustainable and secure domain for future generations.